Switch-operating means



May 7g 199- v. R. DESPARD ET AL 1,711,521

SWITCH OPERATING MEANS Filed June 3, 1927 ZUQZZS Patented May 7, 1929.

i vUNITI-:D's'mxras4 p 1,711,5n PATENT oF-Flcs.

VICTOR R. DESPARD AND HANS C. R. POPP, VALPARAISO, INDIANA, ASSIGNORS T0 MCGILL MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F INDIANA. i

v SWITCH-OPERATING MEANS.

Application led .Tune 3,

It is a purpose of this invention to pro-v vide a simple operating means which may 'be actuated by a pull chain or cordv and which will not be impaired by an excessive pull on the pull chain. c

It is also an object of the invention lto provide a novel means for mounting the operatingstructure upon the rotary stem of the switch. l

A further object of thisinvention is to simplify the connection between the actuating member and the stem of the switch by the provision of a novel spring and ratchet wheel structure.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description-proceeds in connection with the accompanying drawings.Y However we wish it to be understood that we do not intend to limit ourselves to the exact details shown but that ywe intend to avail ourselves of all such modifications as would occur to one-skilled in this art and as fall within the scope of the claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side View showing the switch operating mechanism; n

Fig. 2 is a side view at right angles to Fig. 1;- l

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken centrally through the switch andthe operating mechanism; and

Fig. 4 is a detailed view of the switch operating mechanism in the eXtreme opposite position to that shown in Fig. 1.

Referring now in detail to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates generally the switch body which is preferably yformed of insulating material and has a recess 11 therein which recess is provided with the shouldered portion at 12 upon which stationary contacts, one oi' which is indicated at 13, rest. rl' `l1ese stationary rcontacts may be connected in any suitable manner to-conductors, such for instance as in the manner shown in the application oi' Victor Despardy Serial No. 62,833 now Patent No. 1,669,372 issued May 8, 1928, tiled October 16, 1925 on multiple series switch. Seated within the recess 11 is the insulating disc 14 having mov- 1927. flseriai No. 196,261.

able contact members, onek of which is illustrated at 15, mounted thereon, the disc 14 being rotated by means of the stem 16 which extends into the member 14 through an ini sulating disc' 17 held in place by means of the spring 18 surrounding the stem 16. The recess l1 is covered by means of the insulating plate '19 and the metal iinishing plate 20 which is secured to the base` portion 10 by means of the screws shown at 21 andr22.

It will be noted that the plate 20 is pressed outwardly as at 24 to provide a seat for the enlarged portion 25 on the stem 16 and is provided with an opening 'substantially `i i centrally ofi thev projecting portion 24 through which the outer end'26 of the stem 16 extends.v VThis outer endl as shown is provided with a pair of projections 27 and 28 for a purpose which will presently appear.

The actuating mechanism for causing step by step rotation of the member 16 comprises .the ratchet wheel or disc 30 havinga pair of openings therein receiving the prongs 27l and 28 which are then bent toward each other as show-11 in Fig. 3 to secure the ratchet wheel to the stem. Pivoted on'the stem between the ratchet wheel and the projec-jA tion 24 isrthe member 31 which as shown-1" has a projection v32v extending outwardly beyond the ratchet wheel at one side thereof and substantially opposite this projection is provided the downturned portion 33 having the curved projection 34 thereon slotted as Y at 35 to receive the chain 36consisting of a` plurality of balls and links connecting them.

A coiled spring 38 surrounds the projection 34 and has a hooked oortion 39 engaging the stop 40 struck up 'rom the plate V` 20, the other end of the coiled spring being 1 bent in front of the projection 32 andv having the end 41thereof hooked over the ratchet wheel 30. This'spring is placed in position under tension so that in the posi-V tion shown at Fig. 1 the tendency ot the spring is to maintain the member 31 in the position shown in Fig. 1 where the projection 32 engagesthe stop 40 to limit movement of the member 31 in one direction. Now when the member 31 is rotated by means of the chain 36, the hook portion 41 of the spring 38 will be carried by the member 32 into engagement with one of the teeth 'of the ratchet wheel and thus move the iso that the projection 38 also engages the stop 40. Upon release ot the tension on the j chain 36, the end 4l of the spring will force the member 3l back into the position shown in Fig. l, the spring during this movement simply riding over the rounded portionsL of the ratchet teeth without causing any rotation ot the ratchet wheel.

Thus the spring in this construction serves a dual purpose in that it returns the pivot member 3l back to starting position upon release oi? the pull chain, and, during the movement of the member 8l under the inlluencc ot the pull chain, it connects 'the projection 32 to the ratchet wheel 30 so as to cause rotation of the ratchet wheel without the interposition of any .other structure. The single limiting stop l() struck up from the plate 20 serves to limit the rotating illovement ot the member 3l in both directions and at thc same time holds-the end $59 ot the spring 38 in position. This makes an exceedingly simple structure which is cheap to manufacture and vhas few parts to get out of order so that it will last indeinitely. The spring itself is protected by means ot the stop 4() and the projections 32 and 3? from any undue strain due to an excessive pull on the pull chain 36.

From the above description it is thought that the construction andoperation of this device will be clear to those skilled in this art and having thus described our invention what we claim and Vdesire to secure by Letters Patent of the'United States is:

l. Switch operating mechanism tor rotary switches comprising a rotatable stem, a ratchet member thereon, a coiled spring encircling said, stem and having one end fixed relative to the switch casing, said spring having a portion adjacent the other end thereof connected with theteeth ot said ratchet member whereby movement of said portion in one direction causes rotation of said ratchet member and movement in the opposite direction causes said portion to slide relative to said ratchet 1ncmber,'and actuating means for moving said portion in the iirst named direction, said spring serving to return said portion to normal position upon release of said actuating' means.

2. Switch operating mechanism lior rotary switches comprising a rotatable stem,

a ratchet wheel fixed thereon, a coiled spring surrounding said stemhaving one end connected to the switch casing and the other end hooked over the rim of the ratchet wheel so as to engage the teeth thereon, and means engaging said spring at its hooked end for causing rotative movement ot said hooked end and thereby said ratchet wheel in one direction against the force of the spring.`

`mipsel 3. Switch operating mechanism for rotary switches comprising a rotatable stem, a ratchet wheel iixed thereon, a coiled spring surrounding said stem having one end connected. to the switch casing and the other end hooked over the rim of the ratchet wheel so as to engage the teeth thereon, and means engaging said spring at its hooked end for causing rotative movement of said hooked end and thereby said ratchet wheel in one direction against the force of the spring,said means .including a member rockable about the axis ofsaid stem.

4l. Switch operating mechanism for rotary switches comprising a rotatable stem, a ratchet wheel txed thereon, a coiled spring surrounding said stem `having one end connected to the switch casing and the other end hooked over the rimoi the ratchet wheel so as to engage the teeth thereon, and means engaging said spring at its hooked end for causing rotative movement of said hooked end and thereby said ratchet wheel in one direction against the torce of the spring, said means comprising an actuating member pivoted on said stem and having a projection thereon engaging the spring adjacent its hooked end.

5. Switch operating mechanism for rotary switches comprising a rotatable stem, a ratchet wheel tired thereon, a coiled spring surrounding saidstem having one end connected to the switch casing and the other end hooked over the rim oli the ratchet wheel so as to engage the teeth thereon, and means en gaging said spring at its hooked end .tor causing rotative movement of saidhooked end and thereby said ratchet wheel in one direction against the force of the spring, said means including a member rockable about the axis of said stem, and stopmeans for limiting the rocking movement ot said member in both directions.

6. Switch operating mechanism or rotary switches comprising a rotatable stem, a ratchet wheel fixed thereon, a coiled spring surrounding said stem having one end connected to the switch casing and the other end hooked over the rim of the ratchet wheel so as to enga-ge the teeth thereon, and means engaging said spring at its hooked end for causing rotative movement of said hooked end and thereby said ratchet wheel in one direction against the 'force of the spring, said means including a member rockablc about the axis ot said stem, and stop ,means for limiting the rocking movement of said member in both directions, said stop means also connecting said spring to the switch casing.

7. Switch operating mechanism Vfor rotary switches comprising a rotatable stem, a ratchet member thereon, a coiled spring encircling said stem and having one end fixed relative to the switch casing, said spring having a portion adjacent the other end lll) vsaid ratchet member and movement in the opposite direction Vcauses said portion to slide relative to said ratchet-member7- and actuating means for moving said portion in the lirst named direction, said rspring serving` to return said portion to normal position upon release of said actuating 1neans,vand

stop means on the switch casing cooperating with said actuating means for limiting the rotation of said portion in both directions.

8, Switch operating mechanism for rotary switches comprising a rotatable stem projecting from the switch casing and having spaced projections at the end thereof, a ratchet wheel having openings receiving said projections, said projections being bent over to 'lock the ratchet Wheel in place,` and means including a springsurroundingsaid stem for causing step by step rotation of said ratchet wheel and stem.

9. Switch operating mechanism for rctary switches comprising a rotatable stem .projecting from the switch casing, a ratchet wheel iXed to said stem, a projection on f said casing, a coiled spring surrounding said stem and having one end secured to said pro-A jection, the other end of said spring engag ing the teeth of said ratchet wheel7 and an actuating member pivoted about said stem and engaging said'spring for causing rotation of said ratchet wheel and means on said actuating member adapted to engage said projection to limit the rotation of said actuating` member in both directions.

In'witness whereof, We hereunto subscribe our names this 16th day of May, A. D. 1927.

VICTOR R. DESPARD. HANS C. R. POPP. 

